Pamphlet introducing the Congregation with a note from Msgr Riberi, Archbishop of Dara
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The Medical Missionaries of Mary The Society of the Medical Missionaries of Mary was founded in response to the appeal made by the late Holy Father, Pope Pius XI (the Pope of the Missions), for new institutes of Sisters to be formed for medical work on the mission field, with special concentration on maternity and child welfare work. The members of the Society are religious with public and perpetual vows, trained according to the common prescriptions of Canon Law and their own special constitutions. As their life is very exposed with much freedom of action for their apostolic work, a solid religious training is provided for the cultivation of a deep interior life. The constitutions have been specifically framed to meet the needs of the new work. The Sisters are animated by the spirit of St. Benedict in a broad spirit of charity, and the professed Sisters are available to serve the sick at any hour of the day or night. Their external religious practices are as unostentatious as possible. The dress worn is a plain professional one, adaptable to varying conditions of time and place. All branches of medical work will be undertaken by the Sisters. They will be specially trained and qualified as doctors, dentists, and in other medical fields.
Professional Proficiency Their mission field is vast, and more and more professional members and young subjects with suitable education to train in the various branches of medicine are needed. The requirements for admission to the Society are those laid down by Canon Law and the Constitutions. In April 1952, the Society was erected into a Religious Congregation by the Most Rev. Mgr. Moynagh, Prefect Apostolic of Calabar, Southern Nigeria. On the Feast of the Nativity, 1953, the Sisters took charge of St. Luke's Hospital, Anua, Southern Nigeria. This hospital has 130 beds, a well-equipped theatre, and a dispensary, treating hundreds of patients daily. Dispensary work is undertaken in different mission field areas. In January 1954, the House of Studies was established at Rosemount, Booterstown, Co. Dublin, with the approval of His Grace Dr. Byrne, Archbishop of Dublin. At the end of the same year, the Novitiate of the Society was opened in Co. Louth by His Eminence Cardinal MacRory, Primate of All Ireland, in the presence of His Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio, Most Rev. Paschal Robinson. At the request of the Ecclesiastical Authorities, they are taking charge of The Hospital of Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda. Mother Mary has accepted the gracious offer of the Rev. Mgr. O'Callaghan, Archdeacon of Drogheda, to build her Novitiate on the same site, which is hoped to be completed within the next year, when the novices will be transferred from Collon. These works are a great drain on the personnel as well as the finances of a young Society. Vocations are urgently needed. As soon as Mary heard of her cousin St. Elizabeth's hour of need, the Gospel tells us that "rising up in those days, she went into the hill country with haste, into the city of Judea." We are confident that this call will sound in the hearts of many young Catholic women of Ireland and other lands who have heard of the pressing needs of so many women and children in the pagan countries, and they must be anxious to help Our Lady to bring Christ to those suffering mothers and to help her make Christ known to the pagan children. Our Lady brought Christ to St. Elizabeth; the Medical Missionaries of Mary prepare the way for Christ's coming through the ministry of His priests. Money is also needed to meet the material expenses of such an undertaking and to keep our hospitals and dispensaries in the condition required for scientific and efficient work. But the great need is for constant and fervent prayer. Men and women not themselves able to go on to the missions are asked to assist by prayers and alms to help Mary, Queen of Peace, in bringing the light of Christ's peace to pagan lands, rescuing innumerable mothers and children, and forming truly Catholic homes through the Medical and Social Services of the Medical Missionaries of Mary. A confident appeal is made to the cloistered nuns, and to the sick and suffering in hospitals and in their homes, to help the Sisters of the Medical Missionaries of Mary through their prayers and generous offering of their suffering. All may join in the work in the same spirit of Apostolic Charity. Prayer for Vocations Mary, Mother of God, Mediatrix of Grace, we humbly beseech thee to intercede with thy Divine Son for an increase of devoted handmaids who, renouncing the world to embrace a life of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, will spend themselves in the service of God for the sick and suffering, as Medical Missionaries of Mary, for God's greater glory, their own sanctification, and the salvation of souls. "The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He send forth laborers into His harvest." (St. Matthew 9:37-38). Further inquiries should be communicated with the Mother General of the Society: MOTHER MARY MARTIN, MEDICAL MISSIONARIES OF MARY, ROSEMOUNT, BOOTERSTOWN, DUBLIN. SACRA CONGREGATIO DE PROPAGANDA FIDE, ROME, 16th August 1958. Very Reverend Mother, Your letter of July 31st gave me great pleasure, and I appreciate the expression of gratitude and thanks you address to the Sacred Congregation. I trust that the Novitiate, which is now under consideration, may soon be a consoling reality and give a new impulse to the spirit of charity that distinguishes your community. The news you gave me concerning the work of the Sisters in Africa is indeed welcome, and I take for my own the words of St. Paul: "I have had great joy and consolation in your charity." And I close this letter with the beautiful words of that same great Apostle addressed to the Philippians: "And this I pray, that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge and in all understanding." I pray God to fill you all with His graces, and as an earnest of heavenly favors and a witness of my goodwill, I bless you with all my heart. Yours devotedly in Christ,
From the Letter of Mgr. Riberi: Dear Rev. Mother, This is the first letter I write to you in your capacity as Foundress and Superioress of the new Congregation of Mary's Medical Missionaries. Let me, therefore, begin by expressing my warmest congratulations for having so quickly secured such enthusiastic approval from the Holy See for the new Missionary Congregation. Without a doubt, this wonderful way of granting you an approval that comes so promptly and wholeheartedly from the Holy See has its meaning. It signifies, in addition to the ordinary approval of something good in itself, the supreme importance attached to your undertaking—nay, the pressing urgency of your intended work. It has already been my pleasant duty, after consultation with the Sacred Congregation for Propaganda, to urge the Superiors General of various Missionary Congregations working in this Delegation on the necessity of having Sisters who are fully qualified doctors. During my tours in Africa, I have been privileged to see how much they can do in the mission field. So let me hope that you will be able to prepare many Sister Doctors. But meanwhile, the Irish Missionaries, although working everywhere with wonderful enthusiasm and, in some places, with a great measure of success, are in many parts severely handicapped by two principal factors: having come late into the field and being deprived of Medical Missionaries. You intend, dear Rev. Mother, with a generous heart to make up for this latter deficiency. Let me, therefore, wish you every success in your very timely undertaking. I will not conclude this letter, however, without addressing an earnest appeal to those Irish girls, full of zeal and faith, who, were they to know the wonderful possibilities awaiting them in Mary's Medical Missionaries, would gladly join them. Hoping that this appeal will have a favorable response, I remain, dear Mother Mary, with renewed congratulations. Yours sincerely in Christ, ANT. RIBERI, Archbishop of Dara
OCR ORIGINAL TEXT
The Medical Mismonamcs of Mary
THe Socet ofthe MedicaIMiSMonaresofMary wasfoundedin tesponse
1o thc appcal made by the late Holy Pather, Pope Pius Kl (the Pope of
Mhe Missions), that new instlutes of Sisters be formed for Medical work
on the Mison Acld and with specialconcentraton on Malerniby and Child
Metare Work.
The members ofthe Society are Kelgious wich publc and perpetual
Vows, taincd according to the common prescripuons of Canon Law and of
thcir own spccial consttutions. As their lfe is very cxposed with mnuch
Accdom of achon for thcir Apostolc Work, a sold Relgious taining is
gven for te cultvaton of a dccp interior Lle.
Theconsttudonshave becn specay Hamed tomcctthenccdsofthe ncw
work. The Sisters arc animated by the Spiritof St Benedictin a broad
Spintof Chamty and akow the Prolessed Sisters to be at the service of thc
Mck at any hour of the day or night. Thcir ewiemnal sclgous prachccs
Arc as unostentauous as possible. The dress worn is a plain prokcssonal
one, adaptable to varying condiuons of dme and placc.
AM branches ofMedical work wil be undertaken by the Ssters. They
wil bespccially trained and qualkcd as Doctors, Dendsts, prokcssonal prohcicncy. Thcir Mission Acld is vast and more and more
prokcssional members and young subiccts with suitable cducauon to tain
in thc vamous branchcs of medicine arc nccded. The rcquirements of
Admission to the Socicty arc thosc laid down by Canon Law, and the
Consttudons.
In Apcl 19sz, the Socicy was erccled into a Kelgious Congregaton
by (he MostRev. Mgr. Moynagh. DrckectApomolcofCalabar, Sth. Migena.
On the Feast ofthe Nalivity, 1ozy, the Sisters took charge ofSt. Lukcs
Mospital, Anua, Sth. Migema. hs Hospital has 13o beds and s wel.
cquipped thcatre and dispensary, at which hundreds of pabents arc teated
daly. Dispensary workis undertakenin diWercntarcason the Mision Held.
In fanuary, 1ozS, Me Mouse of Studics was cstabhshed at Roscmount,
Bootcrstown, Co. Dublin, with the approval of His Grace Dr. BYrnc,
Archbishop of Dublin. in the cnd of the same ycar the Noviuatc of hc
Socicty was opcned in Co. Louth by His Emincnce Cardinal MacKory,
PHmate ofAIrcland, andin the presence ofHis Ercckeney The Apomokc
Nuncio, Most Rev. Paschal Robinson. At the rcqucst of the Ecclcsiasuc
Authombcs they are taking charge ofThe Hospitalof Our Lady ofHourdes
In Droghcda. Mother Mary has accepted the gracious ofer of the Rev.
Mgr. O'Cakaghan, Archdcacon of Drogheda, to buid her Novidatc on (hc
samc ste wiuchitishoped will be completed within te nerlycar, when the
Nowices willbe tansterrcd Kom Colon. Thcse works arc agrcatdrain on
te personnc) as wcl as the Ananccs of a young Socicty. Vocadons arc
urgenlly nccdcd.
As soon as Mary hcard of hcr cousin St. Elzabeths hour of nced, te
Gospcl tels us that " rising upin thosc days, she wentinto the hil country
with hastc, into the city of Judca. We are conkdent that this cal wilI
sound in the hearts ofmany young Cathokc women ofIrcland and ofother
Mands who have hcard of te pressing nccds ofso many women and children
In the pagan countmes, and tey must be anvous tohelp Our Lady to brng
Chrst to those sufering mothers, and to help her to make Christknown to
Me pagan children. OurLady broughtChrist oSt. Elzabeth, the Mcdical
Mismonanes of Mary prepare te way of Chnsts coming thcough Mhe
minisry of His priests.
Moncyisalonceded tomcetthematerialcxpenscsofsuchanundertaking,
And to kecp our Mospltals and Dispensares in the condiuon rcquired for
scienuhc and cMcient work.
But the grcat nccd is for constantand fervent praycr. Men and women,
not thcmnsclves able to go on to the Missions, are asked to assist by prayers
and alns, 1o hclp Mary Qucen of Pcace in brghiening pagan lands by the
Mght of Chris's peace in rcscuing thosc innumcrable mothers and children,
in forming truly Cathokc homcs hrough the Mcdical and Social Services
ofthe MedicalMismionamesof Mary.
A conhdent appcal is madc to the Cloitered Nuns, and to the sick and
suMcring in hospilals and in Mhcir homcs, 1o hcp thc Sistcrs of (c Mcdical
Mimonurcsc'Mayb Met Mycrsand gencouscHerngolhGtsuHernE
2
Kor thcsc Sisters workingin bopical lands against many odds, long hoursin
Mopicalhcat, diMculdesofnadvecustomsandfood, and materaldiscomtortS
of many Mnds.
Al may joinin the workin the samc spimtofApomolc Chamt.
DRAYER FOR VocAmONS.
MAnY, Mother of God, Mcdiatrix of Grace, we humbly bcsccch thee to
interccde with thy Divine Son for an incrcasc of devotcd Handmaids who,
renouncing the word to cmbrace a Mke of Poverty, Chasuuy and Obedience,
wIllspend themsclves in the service of Cod for the sick and suGering, as
Mcdical Missonarics ofMary, (or Cod's grcaterglory, thcir own sancuhca.
Hon and Me sbauon ofsouls.
Te Harvcstindccd is grcat bulihe lbourcrs arc (Cw.
Dray ye thercfore the Lord ofthe Harvcst thatMc scnd forth labourcrs
Inlo Me hamvest (St. Malthew ix 1718).
AMimiercmedhouldcommunicae wiCh Che MotheT Gencralofthc Socicry,
MOTHEN MAAY MAATIN.
5.
MYoICA. MIsmONAmIES Or MAAY,
ROSEMOUNT,
HOOTERSTOwN. DUbLIN.
SACKA CONGRLGAIIONE DE PKOPAGANDA FIDE,
ROME.
16i August 19zS,
Wery Reverend MotheT,
Your leuer of Jul ZISt gave me preat pleasure and lapprecate
the exprcsson of gradtude and thanks you addrcss to the Sacred
Congcgauon.
1 trust that the Noviuate whichisnow underconsideraton may soon
be a consoling reality and give a new impulse to the spirit of charby
which distinguishes your community.
The news you gave me concerning the work of the Sistersin Afmca
Isindccd welcomeand Itakeformy own the wordsofSt. Paul' (have
had grcat joy and consolaton in your charity.
And 1 ciose this leuer with Me bcauuful words of that same grcat
Aposue addrcssed to the Dhilppians. And this ( pray. that your
chanty may morc and morc abound in knowledge and in all
understanding.
IprayGod toAMyou alwithHsgracesandasancarnestofheavenly
Lavours and wimness of my good wil 1 blers you with al y hcart
Vours devolcdly in OhriS,
Crom Me Leter of Mor. HiGer/.
DeaTRev. MotheT.
Thisis the Arstleuer Iwrice you in yourcapacity ofFoundres and
Supemorcss of the new Congregauon of Mary's Medical Missionarics.
Lct me, tercfore, begin by exprcssing my warmcst congratulations
Yor having so quickly sccured from the Holy Sec such an enthusasuc
Approval of the Mcw Missionary Congregaton. No doubt, this
Wonderful way of giving you an approval that comes so prompdy and
wholcheartedly &omn the Holy See Hasits meaning. Iemeans, besides
the ordinary approval ofsomcthing whichis good in itselt, the supremne
importance which is alachcd to your undertaking nay, the prcssing
urgency ofyourintended work.
1t has alrcady been my plcasant duty, afer consukaton with te
Sacred Congrcgaton of Propaganda to urge on the Supemors General
ofvamous Missonary Congregatons working in this Delegaton thc
necesmty of having Simers who arc fuly qualked dociors. During
my tours in Afmca 1 have been privllcged to scc how much tey cap
doin the Mismon fcld. Soletmehope tatyou wil be able to preparc
many Simer Doctors.
But mcanwhile, the Mrish Misionares, alchoughworkingeverpwherd
with wonderful enthusiasm, and in some placcs with great mcasurc of
success, in many parts they are severcly handicapped by hwo principl
factors: having come late in the Held, and being deprived of Mcdical
Missionarics.
Youintend, dcar Rev. Mother, wich generous heart to make upfor
this lauer dchciency. Let me, thercfore, wish you cvery succcss in
your very umcly undertaking.
Iwilnotconclude thislcuer, however, withouladdrcssingan carncest
Appealto those imsh girs, (uMofzealand Haith. who, werethey toknor
the wonderful possibildes awaitng themn in Mary's Medical Misson.
Arcs would gladly join them.
Hoping hhat tis appcal wil have a tavourable response, (remain,
dcar Mother Mary, wth fenewed congratulatons.
Yours sncerely in Chcist.
ANT. MBERI.
Acchbishop of Dara,
Hhonolc DeleymIG.
